Glasses Style from Specsavers

I've been working with Specsavers to explore their range of glasses and see how they can be worn and styled. There can be few followers of this blog who don't need glasses; it's one of the inevitable consequences of age. I've worn them since my early twenties and, having tried many opticians over the years, know what to look for. My main requirement is a good choice of frames. Selecting something stylish can be hard and the wider the choice the better. Obviously friendly staff and expert optometrists are essential too, but I also need sound advice on frames selection: what fits your face shape and colouring?

Boss Orange 0251 from Specsavers

I selected a few frames from Specsavers and, to experience the service fully, went through an eye test and fitting - all the glasses I wear here have prescription lenses fitted. I'd chosen the frames from their very comprehensive website which, using your webcam, allows you to virtually try on the frames you like. This is useful, not as good as trying them on in the store, but it realistically allows you to see what shapes and colours will suit you.  

Key West Sun from Specsavers

The choice is huge, although I would have liked to see more clear/transparent acrylic and plastic frames as these suit those with greying hair, giving a very contemporary and stylish look, a comment I've fed back to Specsavers. Throughout the staff were both knowledgeable and helpful and I'd certainly use them again, particularly as many of the frames, particularly their own ranges, are competitively priced.

Buying glasses is as effective as buying stylish clothes in changing how you look and how the world sees you. Different styles can make you look serious, businesslike, artistic, bohemian, studious; whatever you want. The LoveGlasses hub provides a wide range of trends, ideas and inspiration enabling you to select the style of glasses that suits your taste.

Pierre Cardin 02 from Specsavers

Here you'll see how I styled the frames (links to each model are underneath the images). I tend to see metal and dark-coloured frames as more business-like than tortoiseshell-style frames as they give a slightly more formal look to the wearer. This varies so much with the colouring and face shape of the wearer that it's hard to be too prescriptive, but take advice from the staff and see what looks right on you - the more you try the better. Be adventurous and try something different, as I did when I switched from a tortoiseshell to transparent acrylic frames. Don't forget a pair of sunglasses, where looking cool is essential. Go for a classic shape and avoid anything too colourful, unless you want to make a statement!

This was a collaboration with Specsavers. The views expressed are mine alone.

Photography George Gierhart.

Oliver Peoples Open a London Store: glasses with attitude

Oliver Peoples have become one of my favourite eyewear brands in the last few years. The combination of contemporary yet vintage styling and genuine robustness put them at the top of my list. I've tried a few makes recently and too many, while stylish, are let down by a feeling of flimsiness which, while it may be misleading, doesn't inspire confidence. Glasses are inevitably going to be sat on or dropped on the floor during their life, and we need them to last, whether they are optical or sunglasses.

Oliver Peoples recently opened their first store in the UK recently just near Sloane Square in London. I went there to have my eyes tested and to be fitted for a new pair of glasses. The store is well-designed, displaying an impressively wide and stylish range of frames for optical and sunglasses.

Oliver Peoples Sheldrakes

Oliver Peoples started in California in 1987 and were inspired by a collection of vintage eyewear. That inspiration remains at the heart of the brand. Basing designs on well-tried classics, brought up to date, is a winning formula.

I tried a pair of clear acrylic frames. In the past I've tended towards tortoiseshell, but I felt that colourless glasses would suit grey hair better and give a more stylish but muted appearance. I selected their Sheldrake model, based on a style worn by Andy Warhol. As ever, they are comfortable, robust and subtly styled. So much do I like them that my contact lenses have been less frequently used of late.

My thanks to Ellen, their optometrist and store manager whose enthusiasm for the product and professionalism were outstanding. I'd recommend the store not only for the range of frames available, but for the excellent optometry service that supports you in your choice of glasses, whether prescription or not. The store is at 151 Sloane St, Belgravia, London SW1X 9BX, telephone 020 7730 0085. Please mention Grey Fox if you contact them. For more from me about Oliver Peoples click here.

My glasses were provided by Oliver Peoples but I received no financial compensation for this feature. 

David Clulow: opticals and sunglasses - a photoshoot

David Clulow has been providing optical care and services since 1962. They've kindly asked me to work with them on a new campaign and I recently took part in a photoshoot to show how friends of the brand (no professional models) might wear the brand's products. This is a nice approach, showing how the man and woman on the street might wear their glasses.

Over the next few weeks I'll show a few of the huge range of optical and sunglasses that are supplied by David Clulow; from Olivers Peoples, Persol (that I'm wearing in the images here) and others. The breadth and variety of their offering is supported by opticians, optometrists and technicians to ensure that prescriptions, fit and style are the best. I've tried their service making a set of prescription specs, some reading glasses and sunglasses and found them to be friendly, knowledgable and efficient. 

The great thing about spectacles, optical and sunglasses, is that, like clothes, careful choice can reflect the style and personality that you want to show off on any particular day or for any particular event. You want to look studious, playful, proficient, creative, serious, flippant? You will find frames and lenses to match, helped by David Clulow's professional staff. Colour, shape and frame material all have a subtle influence on your overall look.

At present there's a trend to look back at classic designs of the fifties and sixties. For men, stars such as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen, Michael Caine and Gregory Peck provide inspiration in the search for a very contemporary look that suits all ages, face shape and personality. Modern frames reflect these styles in a very practical way, giving a timeless look using modern materials, acrylics and metals.

For more information on their latest ranges of optical service and sunglasses, see David Clulow.

Note: This is a sponsored post; As mentioned in this piece, I'm working with David Clulow to promote their services and wide range of glasses and optical services.

Made-to-measure eyewear services: Grey Fox tries two different approaches from Atelier Eyewear & Scarlett of Soho

The last year has seen a rise in the number of online services offering made-to-measure eyewear; both as sun or optical glasses. I've tried a couple of these and have been impressed by the level of service and the quality of the products.

[PS: Scarlett & Soho are offering Grey Fox Blog readers a generous pre-Christmas discount; see below.]

Atelier Eyewear

Offer both optical and sunglasses. I tried it for the sunglasses and was taken through a choice of some 15 frames, 30 colours and 7 frames options. 

Atelier Eyewear sunglasses

There are frames shapes to suit all tastes and face-types. The process is interesting and engaging. You upload a photo of your face (an easy process using the camera on your computer or device) and select from the wide choice available. Measurements are taken and, after 4 to 5 weeks, the glasses arrive, nicely-packed and well-presented. Each pair is customised to fit your face shape and the frame can be engraved with your name, making it unique to you. 

The short wait is well worth it; the fit and design were exactly as I hoped for. The materials are high quality, the glasses are robust and yet not too heavy, an excellent combination of comfort, design and style. Sunglasses like mine cost around £265 including lenses and shipping. Given that the customer effectively designs his own glasses, giving a near-bespoke and high-quality product, this is a reasonable price. 

Much support and help is available, so you're not left on your own to sort out exactly what you need. This is reassuring if you are wanting frames fitted with prescription lenses. It's good to wear quality eyewear that is unique and not worn be everyone else. Visit Atelier Eyewear [Note I have removed this link as there is a malware warning and the company seems to have disappeared October 2015] to try out the service.

Scarlett & Soho

Scarlett & Soho also offer either sun or optical eyewear, but their approach is slightly different. You browse their website, choose four frames which are sent to you so that you can try them out at home over the next five days. You then return the frames in a pre-paid box that fits postboxes, making the process very easy indeed.

Scarlett & Soho optical glasses

Again, much help is offered to ensure you select the correct fit of frames and prescription of lenses. If you don't have your prescription to hand, they will obtain it from your usual optometrist. Prices are good; from about £97 including prescription (£147 for sunglasses with prescription lenses). I obtained a pair of reading glasses to enable me to read more easily while wearing contact lenses. 

The quality and comfort of the frames are very high. The materials are good quality and robust. Visit Scarlett & Soho to find out more.

NOTE: Scarlett & Soho are offering Grey Fox Blog readers a pre-Christmas 2014 discount of 20% using the code GFB20 at the checkout.

Summary

I enjoyed using both services. Atelier Eyewear offer a wider choice and greater degree of customisation at an understandably higher cost. Scarlett & Soho offer a good choice and lower prices, but slightly less exclusivity and choice. I was happy to use both. You pays your money and takes your choice.

Hackett - genuine horn-rimmed specs reviving the retro style

Horn-rimmed glasses, made originally either from horn or tortoiseshell, became popular in the early twentieth century. They're now usually reproduced in plastic, but Hackett have designed these genuine buffalo and rams' horn spectacles frames for release in January 2015. I couldn't resist them and am grateful to Hackett for allowing us a preview.

Carefully crafted from real horn, each piece is chosen to ensure a good balance of colour and grain within the natural material. Riveted hinges are used, mitred joints meet seamlessly with fronts and temples are sculpted to allow natural give and comfort. There are four styles in six colours, from light tan and browns to deep rich blacks and greys.

Close inspection shows those interesting little variations that you get from the hand-crafting of natural materials - and no two are the same - these are clearly not plastic reproductions. For more information, contact Hackett.

I wear vintage-style tortoiseshell-effect specs myself and reckon that the retro feel suits both the younger and older man, looking good either with sunglasses or optical prescription lenses. What do you think? What styles of glasses so you prefer?